Races: Weekend a moving celebration

HYANNIS – More than 1,400 runners filled the streets of Hyannis on Sunday morning to celebrate Memorial Day weekend and the legacy of Johnny Kelley, the sport's patron saint.

BILL HIGGINS

HYANNIS – More than 1,400 runners filled the streets of Hyannis on Sunday morning to celebrate Memorial Day weekend and the legacy of Johnny Kelley, the sport's patron saint.

The Great Hyannis Road Races included three events: the Michael Aselton 5K, the CHIPS House 7.2-miler and the centerpiece, the Johnny Kelley Half-Marathon.

Kelley is best remembered as a two-time champion of the Boston Marathon, a race he ran 61 times. He was a founder of the Cape Cod Athletic Club and lived in East Dennis for many years before his death in 2004 at the age of 97.

The Aselton 5K honors the memory of the Barnstable police officer who died in the line of duty in 1983. CHIPS House provides support for those disabled by head injuries.

It wasn't much of a beach day, but a good day to run, although deceptively humid, and the Hyannis town green served as a pleasant venue for runners and spectators.

Andrew Wommack of Jamaica Plain and Katherine Pierce of Alfred, Maine, were the winners of the Kelley half-marathon.Wommack said he was coaxed into running 13.1 miles by his wife, Tara, who also did the half-marathon, finishing second to Pierce.

Nonetheless, Wommack cruised to victory in 1:15:22. Mark Reed of Alexandria, Va., was second in 1:16:52. Tom Giardino of Falmouth was the top local finisher, fourth overall.

Pierce was an easy champion of the women's division in 1:22:26, running fifth overall.

Coming off her junior season on the Lehigh University track team – she won the Patriot League 10,000-meter title earlier this month – Pierce knew she was in good shape. She said she spent the last two weeks fine-tuning her training for the half-marathon distance and was never challenged, enjoying most of the course with her father, Rob, by her side.

Caitlin Roberts of Dennis was the top Cape woman in the half-marathon in fourth place.In the CHIPS 7.2-miler, the winners were Justin Baker of North Chelmsford and Miriam Beyer of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Baker, the son of Dave Baker, well-known in the local running community, said he prefers the half-marathon distance, but was obviously comfortable racing the shorter route on Sunday. His time of 42:52 was nearly five minutes ahead of runner-up Michael Ewald of Osterville.

Beyer was visiting the Cape for the first time to spend the holiday weekend with friends. She was second overall (47:13) and enjoyed the scenic course.

“The mist along the water was nice, and the air a lot better than in Brooklyn,” she said.

Sarah Newcomb of Orleans was the top local woman in third place.

The Aselton 5K winners were 15-year-old Justin Trott of North Hampton, N.H., in 16:59 and 49-year-old Yumi Ogita of New York City in 18:48. Barry Merrill of Centerville was the top local man in fourth place. Heather Anderson of Centerville was the top local woman.

Not lost amid the festivities were remembrances of Memorial Day, including Yarmouth Deputy Police Chief Steven Xiarhos running the 5K with his ever-present flags. He was honoring the memory of his son – Marine Cpl. Nicholas Xiarhos, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2009 – and all who have served the country.

Xiarhos' daughter, Ashlynne, ran the 7.2-miler.

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